Spoofing the Awakening Plot: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter

 On Votaries, I discuss the adapting versus awakening plots in fantasy:

Adapting is about the characters arriving in a fantasy place and figuring out how to survive, make do, get along. The premise (the reason for the character showing up somewhere else) takes a backseat to the character getting on with things. Awakening is more about "the man behind the curtain" and the immediate impact that such revelations have on the primary protagonists. In adapting, the focus is on solving immediate impediments. In awakening, the focus is very much on identity or self-revelation.

I'm not opposed to awakening plots--and I think a great deal of fantasy combines the two. However, I prefer plots that focus more on adapting, wherever the adapting takes place. 

One reason I enjoy The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter so much is because it lightly but consistently spoofs various awakening tropes. The Holy Maiden, for instance, is the Neo-type character there to save Romany. She already has certain abilities. She is sweet and pretty and wants to help. Everyone loves her! The prince wants to marry her! In a classic awakening plot, she would--like Neo--come to embrace her role.

But, actually, she wants to go home. She wants to go back to school. She wants to hang out with her friends and see her family.

She also comes at events from an entirely modern point of view but not in some gnostic "I can spot the secrets of the universe" knowledge kind of way. It's just the way she thinks. And she's not that self-analytical.

In fact, as the protagonist Kondou realizes, she's quite often clueless about cause and effect (because she comes to the world equipped to handle magic, she assumes Kondou is the same). He also thinks she is being misused, despite living in a castle and having all her needs catered to. One of his primary complaints throughout the series is that no one has REALLY officially apologized to either one of them. 

And he is working hard (partly for his own reasons and partly just because he can) to make her role unnecessary, to use the world's magic as a technological solution to a problem usually solved by the Holy Maiden. 

As Kondou says, "In other words, you've got to clean up your own messes." 

The unintended results are that the prime minister, who is mostly interested in political power, values and quite ruthlessly uses Kondou, and the Church, which depends theologically on the Holy Maiden, is highly annoyed by him. The Royal Sorcery Department is at first wary but the entirely hilarious geeks within the department quickly figure out that Kondou's approach will advance their projects and they attach themselves to him. People adapt!

The realistic use of adaptation runs through the series. So, for instance, when Kondou nearly dies from drinking magic potions to keep himself going, he doesn't determine, I shouldn't do that! He decides, Eh, I probably just drank a potion with the wrong strength. Nothing, after all, is absolute. 

The consequence here is that Kondou's boyfriend has to keep a very close eye on him.  

Best courtship gift ever!